The Duel: Test Drive II

From Sega Retro

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TestDriveII title.png

The Duel: Test Drive II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Ballistic
Developer:
Licensor: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche
Sound driver: Accolade sound driver
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9959.99[2] ACLD008
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Video Game Classics)
Sega Mega Drive
EU
ACLD008
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9939.99[4][5] ACLD008
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Non-Sega versions

The Duel: Test Drive II is a racing game released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1992. It is the sequel to Test Drive.

Gameplay

Test Drive II is a racing game where the player can race against an AI opponent or against the clock. The player initially is given the opportunity to choose a car to drive and a level of difficulty. The two lower difficulty levels use an automatic transmission, and the two higher difficulty levels use a manual transmission. Races take place on two to four lane public highways with many turns; each course is different and may include obstacles such as bridges, cliffs, and tunnels in addition to other cars. Each course also has one or more police cars along the course.

The goal of each course is to reach the gas station at the end of the course in the least amount of time. The car is steered with Left and Right. A dot on the steering wheel indicates the direction that it is pointed. The car accelerates with B and brakes with A. When equipped with a manual transmission, Up upshifts and Down downshifts.

Police cars appear in every course, and if the player is driving faster than the speed limit when encountering one of them, the police car follows in pursuit. If at any point while being pursued, the police car is able to pass the player's car, the player is forced to pull over and receives a ticket stating the offense and the speed of the vehicle. This does not cost the player a life but costs time. Players can avoid being pursued by police by slowing down before encountering them, anticipating them through the aid of a radar detector, which comes standard in all vehicles in the game.

The car can crash into other traffic or off-road obstacles such as trees or by falling off the cliff, which costs the player a life. The car can also sustain too much damage by staying off the roadway for too long. Players can lose a life when using a manual transmission by redlining and consequently blowing the engine. Crashing into a police car instantly ends the game, regardless of the number of lives the player has left.

Cars

Test Drive II, Cars, Porsche 959.png Porsche 959
The Porsche 959 has a 2.8 L twin-turbocharged six-cylinder boxer engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. It is rear-engine and all-wheel drive. It was produced from 1986 to 1993.
Test Drive II, Cars, Ferrari F-40.png Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40 has a 2.9 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. It is mid-engine and rear-wheel drive. It was produced from 1987 to 1992.
Test Drive II, Cars, Lamborghini Diablo.png Lamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo has a 5.7 L V12 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. It is mid-engine and rear-wheel drive. It was produced from 1990 to 2001.

Courses

Test Drive II, Stages, City.png

City

Test Drive II, Stages, Mountain.png

Mountain

Test Drive II, Stages, Desert.png

Desert

Versions

Test Drive II was originally released for home computers in 1989, with the Mega Drive and Super NES console conversions arriving three years later in 1992. Both console versions run at a faster frame rate with more colourful graphics, though sound effects are lacking in comparison to the Amiga version, and neither console ports offer all the features obtainable by using the game's many computer expansion disks.

The Mega Drive version is the more accurate of the two 16-bit console ports, with the Super NES deviating from the original design in terms of track layouts and scenery. However, the Super NES version has a noticeable performance advantage over all other versions, although this might be achieved by its decision to render fewer objects on screen at any one time. The Mega Drive version is also the only version to have in-game music by default. In the SNES version, music may be enabled on options.

Accolade released expansion disks for the home computer versions that added additional cars and courses.

Production credits

  • Developed by: Distinctive Software Inc. Burnaby,B.C.
  • The Duel - TEST DRIVE II was programmed by: Brad Gour, Chris Taylor, Richard Kiss
  • Artwork: David Gibbs, Jackie Ritchie, Ian Verchere
  • Sound and Music: Alistair Hirst, Russell Shiffer
  • Produced by: Pam Levins, Brad Gour
Original Version of The Duel: Test Drive II designed and developed by Distinctive Software Inc.
Software Libraries copyright (c) 1992 Distinctive Software Inc.
All other software and materials copyright (c) 1992 Accolade, Inc.
Source:
In-game credits
Test Drive II MD credits.pdf
[6]


Magazine articles

Main article: The Duel: Test Drive II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in GamePro (US) #34: "May 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #41: "December 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #126: "May 1992" (1992-04-15)
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Print advert in Joypad (FR) #8: "Mai 1992" (1992-04-1x)
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[9]
Consoles + (FR)
50
[10]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[11]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
40
[12]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
43
[13]
Game Power (IT)
75
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
58
[2]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
73
[15]
Joypad (FR) PAL
85
[16]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
70
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
68
[18]
Mega (UK) PAL
65
[19]
Mega (UK)
65
[20]
Mega Action (UK)
84
[21]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
77
[22]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
40
[23]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
60
[24]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
67
[25]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
57
[26]
Play Time (DE)
49
[27]
Power Play (DE)
47
[28]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
89
[29]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[31]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
65
[32]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
71
[4]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-U
85
[33]
Todo Sega (ES)
70
[34]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
76
[35]
Video Games (DE)
45
[36]
Sega Mega Drive
66
Based on
30 reviews

The Duel: Test Drive II

Mega Drive, US
TestDriveII MD US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTestDriveII MD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
TestDriveII MD US-EU Cart Unlicensed.jpg
Cart
Test Drive II MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
TheDuelTestDriveII MD US Poster.jpg
Poster
Mega Drive, US (alt)

TestDriveII MD US-EU Cart White.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US/EU
(Video Game Classics)
TestDriveII MD US Box Back Classic.jpgNospine.pngTestDriveII MD US Box Front Classic.jpg
Cover
TestDriveII MD US Cart Classic.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US/EU
(Accolade)
TestDriveII MD US Box Back Accolade.jpgTestDriveII MD US Box Front Accolade.jpg
Cover
TestDriveII MD US-EU Cart Accolade.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
TestDriveII MD US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTestDriveII MD EU front.jpg
Cover
TestDriveII MD US-EU Cart Unlicensed.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU (ALT) White Cart

TestDriveII MD US-EU Cart White.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: The Duel: Test Drive II/Technical information.

References

  1. GamePro, "April 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 24
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 58
  3. Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 9
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sega Force, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-14), page 74
  5. Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 33
  6. File:Test Drive II MD credits.pdf
  7. Game Informer, "January/February 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 41
  8. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 31
  9. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 242
  10. Consoles +, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 72
  11. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 222
  12. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 28
  13. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 107
  14. Game Power, "Luigio/Agosto 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 50
  15. Game Informer, "Summer 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 6
  16. Joypad, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-05-1x), page 78
  17. Joystick, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 194
  18. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  19. Mega, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-18), page 81
  20. Mega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 65
  21. Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 64
  22. Mega Fun, "06/92" (DE; 1992-0x-xx), page 31
  23. Mega Play, "June 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 63
  24. MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 45
  25. Mean Machines, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-28), page 56
  26. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  27. Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 92
  28. Power Play, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-13), page 150
  29. Sega Power, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-02), page 20
  30. Sega Pro, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-21), page 56
  31. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  32. Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 32
  33. Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 21
  34. Todo Sega, "Julio 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 64
  35. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 200
  36. Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 54


The Duel: Test Drive II

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